highfire

Highfire is a term used primarily in ceramics to indicate firing at high temperatures. The spelling varies: commonly written as high-fire, but sometimes as highfire, depending on regional or stylistic preferences. The term serves to distinguish high-temperature firing from low-fire processes and is most often encountered in studio practice and glaze formulation.

In practice, high-fire ceramics rely on clays and glazes formulated to mature at high temperatures. The typical firing range corresponds to cone 5 through cone 10, roughly 1200 to 1300°C (about 2190–2370°F), depending on materials and kiln atmosphere. High-fire wares—such as certain stonewares and porcelains—are usually vitrified and watertight after firing, with glaze effects that can include varied crystallization, color development, and improved durability.

Outside ceramics, highfire appears occasionally as a brand, product name, or fictional term, and may be used metaphorically to describe intense heat or high-heat processes. Because the term is used across domains, clarification is usually necessary to determine its intended meaning in a given context. In general, however, the most established association of highfire remains with high-temperature ceramic firing.